Early Tuesday run spells success for streaking Catfish, squeaking past Alton

It’s been a spell of success late for the Cape Catfish, and it continued Tuesday night as a commanding start helped them to an 8-6 victory over the Alton River Dragons at home.

Putting both ends together from the start, leading a commanding offensive effort while getting a phenomenal start on the bump, fans at Capaha Field were treated to one of the team’s best performances of the year.

Opening up a seven-run lead after the third inning and holding on despite some late offensive slowing, Cape got control of this one early and never let loose.

The win made for four wins in five outings for the Catfish dating back to their Thursday win against Danville last week, and Alton never quite stood up to a streaking Cape until it was too late.

Despite a late rally from Alton, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth with the tying run standing on first base, Cape had enough gas left in the tank to put a cap on the victory.

“I knew these guys were capable of this the whole time, so it's it's not really a surprise to me,” Catfish coach Phil Butler said.

“But just because it's not a surprise doesn't mean it doesn’t feel good.”

Holding the visiting River Dragons to just one run over their first four innings after they scored seven on them away two weeks ago, it was a strong all-around performance for the Fish.

That defense has been essential for Cape, now beginning to claw back in the division standings as the first-half race for the division heats up.

Starter Success

After a recent streak of some poor starting performances at home, Jorge Romero didn’t let that dictate his performance as he helped push the Catfish out to the early lead.

Looking to make some headway early, Romero pitched the first four innings of the game on just one earned run, surrendering two hits and an opening tally in the first but garnering a great start.

In search of some great success on the front end, it’s been a challenge all season for Cape as some poor starting performances have either put the Fish in a big hole or nullified a great offensive effort.

With the success of Romero on Tuesday, shaving some serious digits off of his seasonal earned run average, it helped Cape out to a huge early lead.

Racking up an 8-1 lead through the game’s first three innings, and throwing another zero on the board in the fourth just for good measure, Romero got his job done in a high-quality opening performance.

Butler made a call to the pen with Ty Allen to start the fifth inning, giving Romero the rest he needs to be able to compete through an excruciating Prospect League schedule.

With some solid performances to start the year, Romero was looking for a big break on Tuesday, and he certainly got it.

“We've got a couple aces, but he's our ace,” Butler said. “I expect him to go out and do that every time. He hasn't let me down yet.”

Early Hitting Controls

The offense hasn’t been much for a problem for Cape this season, but it certainly wasn’t on Tuesday night as the Catfish dictated the matchup with some early slugging.

After drawing the game up at one-all in the first inning following an early Alton score, the Catfish undid that tie with a five-run second to steal up the early momentum.

Producing eight runs through the game’s first three innings, which included eight hits through the first three innings, chasing two pitchers by the fourth inning.

Though much of Cape’s scoring game on some singling with runners in scoring position, some extra-base hitters came around to score as the Catfish piece up the River Dragons.

Local Jackson product Steven Schneider, a freshman with the Fish, doubled while both J.J. Williams and Quinton Borders tripled to keep the line moving.

“These guys are just starting to click, starting to become a group,” Butler said. “We've got guys coming in; every day or so a new guy seems to show up, and we finally got our whole squad here.

“I think this is just a sign that we’re on a roll.”

Battling through a couple of slow starts recently, Cape’s early deficit spelled bad news in the first inning, but the bats behind starter Romero gave him the insurance he needed to deal comfortably.

Working around a phenomenal start from the junior Los Angeles righty and some clutch relief efforts out of the pen, the Catfish put together a huge early lead and held on down the stretch.

Road Trip Begins

So concludes a long stretch of home games, hosting six of the past seven games as the Catfish have gone from a meddling record to just two games under .500.

It’s not impossible, but the difference between Thrillville at the top of the division and Cape at the bottom is five-and-a-half games.

With such a ridiculous first half from Thrillville, sitting at 13-4 after Tuesday’s loss to Chillicothe, it’s a big, big gap between first and last in the South Division.

Just 11 games remain for the first half of the season for Cape, the road to a first-half divisional title certainly isn’t promising, and it doesn’t get any brighter moving forward.

It’s five consecutive road games for the Catfish, making their way north to O’Fallon, Missouri, over to Springfield, Illinois, then for back-to-back days in Clinton, Iowa, before a final game back in Springfield against the Lucky Horseshoes.

Getting the a nice tour of the northwestern stretches of the Prospect League, it’s a long stretch for the Catfish as they manage their longest road trip of the season.

With just six away games to date, playing 12 of 18 games at Capaha Field, Cape will nearly break even on the season after a long stretch away from home.

Next making the return trip to home turf on Tuesday, set for a tilt with the Burlington Bees on Jackson Tribe night, it’ll be exactly a week until Cape makes its next appearance at home.

That in mind, there’s plenty to think about as the upper management of the Catfish look to make a pleasant – and successful – road trip across the Northwest Division.

“It's gonna be a new thing for a lot of these guys, but I think they're totally capable of handling it,” Butler said. “It's just a matter of logistics at this point.

“We’re going to be ready when we get to the field.”